The proportion of German players at Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga clubs has risen to its highest level since the 1999-2000 season.

At the end of the summer transfer window, 64 percent of professionals on the books at teams in the top two flights hold a German passport - three percent up on last season.

"The numbers show that the Bundesliga's youth development programmes are bearing fruit. The clubs invest more than 80 million euro annually in their football academies. This lays the foundation for an ever increasing number of homegrown Bundesliga stars for the fans to look forward to", League president Dr. Reinhard Rauball commented, adding that, "It also of course is one of the reasons for the strong performances at the Word Cup in South Africa of our national team, which was culled exclusively from Bundesliga players."

58 percent of all professionals registered in the Bundesliga are German nationals, and 71 percent of those in the 2. Bundesliga. From now until the opening of the second season transfer window (January 1st - 31st 2011), only players currently without a club can be additionally signed up.